Armed Forces & Society · 1994 · 227 citations · 0 references
Social SciencesChange ManagementCultural StudiesCultural ChangeCultureWar StudiesCivil-military RelationsMilitary LeadershipMilitary StrategyOrganizational Culture ChangeMilitary CultureMilitary Organizational CultureMilitary SocietySocial Change ModelsSocial Change Theory
The conflict between the combat, masculine‑warrior paradigm and the evolving cultural model helps explain current turmoil as the military adapts to social change such as increasing diversity. The article proposes a framework to help military leaders understand and manage culture and change, concluding with a discussion of a potential paradigm shift. The authors employ three interrelated concepts—ideal type, model, and paradigm—to analyze and explain change and continuity in American military culture amid major social change, defining and applying each to current culture. The analysis reveals continuity in the military’s combat, masculine‑warrior paradigm, while also showing change through an evolving cultural model that conflicts with that paradigm.
This article uses three interrelated concepts-ideal type, model, and paradigm-to examine and explain both change and continuity in the American military culture as it undergoes major social change. Briefly, the analysis defines the three concepts and then applies each to current military culture. From this analysis, one sees continuity in the military's cultural paradigm, termed the "combat, masculine-warrior." However, one also sees change as illustrated by the military's "evolving" model of culture. Also discussed is how the military's combat, masculine-warrior paradigm conflicts with its evolving model of culture. This conflict helps explain some of the current turmoil as the military adapts to social change (e.g., diversity). The article concludes with a discussion of a potential paradigm shift in military culture. Hopefully this article provides a framework of analysis from which military leaders can better understand and proactively manage culture and change.